Faircloth WINS Amistad Texan Todd Faircloth Surges to Victory at Bassmaster Elite Series Event on Lake 5:10 AM 4/14/2008 Reply Edit -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Texan Todd Faircloth Surges to Victory at Bassmaster Elite Series Event on Lake Amistad DEL RIO, Texas Sparked by a magic tree, Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, jumped Sunday from 10th place to first at the Lone Star Shootout presented by Mahindra Tractors, edging Elite rookie Clark Reehm of Russellville, Ark., by just 12 ounces. With the victory, Faircloth earns $100,000 and moved up to second position in the prestigious Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, which boast a $250,000 top prize and serves as the main qualifying avenue into the Bassmaster Classic. Fairloths 29-pound, 14-ounce limit was buttressed by a final-hour stop at a location he found at a 2007 Elite event on Amistad. Last year, I caught 36 pounds from this area where there was a giant tree, said Faircloth, 32. I decided to save it until the very end today. So, I pulled in there and caught two giants with less than an hour to go. That tree is magical. To see Faircloths magic spot and the rest of the big-fish action from Amistad, fishing fans can tune in to ESPN2 on Saturday, April 19 at 9 a.m. ET. The fourth Elite event of the 2008 season was shortened to three days because of unsafe weather conditions Thursday, which would have been the first day of competition. Faircloth primarily used two techniques throughout the three days. He fished a 6-inch Senko to fill out his limit and used a swimbait, as many other anglers in the field did, to entice his bigger bites. The largest bass of his Sunday limit, an 8-13 brute which earned Purolator Big Bass honors and $1,000, was boated on a swimbait. In 2007, Faircloth scored a fourth-place finish at Amistad but had an unproductive three-day practice period heading into this weeked. However, he said he was able to get some much-needed rest Thursday when the tournament day was canceled. After practice, I didnt expect to be anywhere near winning this event, said Faircloth. Thursday gave me some perspective, I was able to hang out with my children and get some rest. That always helps. Faircloth now has earned more than $750,000 in his BASS career and has two BASS victories, both in Elite Series competition. With seven events remaining in the 2008 Elites, he has put himself in prime position for a run at the AOY title and Classic qualification. Reehm, who weighed in 76-3 overall, just missed his first Elite Series trophy, but the Elite rookie made a considerable leap in the AOY standings to 46th. Despite being disappointed, Reehm feels that he is still in the learning stages in Elite competition. Every day you learn something new, said Reehm, 28. I made some mistakes that ultimately cost me but I rebounded after a miserable performance last week at Falcon Lake and I had an excellent time. Reehm, who qualified for the Elites through the Bassmaster Open format, fished Amistad in September 2007, ultimately qualifying for the 2008 Bassmaster Classic on the strength of his Amistad tournament. This time around, he targeted similar areas as he did then, primarily Carolina-rigging a big worm in red. He said the bigger bass came later in the day and was focusing on staging fish. Right behind Reehm was fellow Arkansas pro Kevin Short of Mayflower, with 75-10. Short exacted a measure of redemption on Amistad after catching zero legal bass on the second day of the 2007 tournament. Another Arkansas pro, Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, was fourth with 71-1. Although he missed out on a record fourth Elite Series win, McClelland took the top position in the AOY standings. Every day I think about winning the Angler of the Year, McClelland said. That is the ultimate goal and its fantastic to get out to such a great start. In fifth was Saturdays leader Jason Williamson of Aiken, S.C., with 69-12. Two Texans also finishing in the top 12 were Gary Klein of Weatherford (6th) and Billy Brewer of Bruceville (8th). Location and Field Battle on the Border presented by Mahindra Tractors Lake Amistad Del Rio, Texas April 10-13, 2008 Field 109 pros, 109 co-anglers Day 1 was canceled due to unsafe weather conditions Cut to top 12 pro anglers after Day 3 Launch/Weigh-in Diablo East Marina Hwy 90 Del Rio, Texas 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series Event Dates Date Event Name Fishery Host City March 6-9 Sunshine Showdown Harris Chain of Lakes Leesburg, Fla. March 13-16 Citrus Slam Kissimmee Chain Lake Wales, Fla. April 3-6 Lone Star Shootout Falcon Lake Zapata, Texas April 10-13 Battle on the Border Lake Amistad Del Rio, Texas May 1-4 Pride of Georgia Clarks Hill Lake Evans, Ga. May 15-18 Carolina Clash Lake Murray Columbia, S.C. June 5-8 Southern Challenge Wheeler Lake Decatur, Ala. June 12-15 Bluegrass Brawl Kentucky Lake Gilbertsville, Ky. June 26-29 River Rumble Mississippi River Fort Madison, Iowa July 31- Aug. 3 Empire Chase Lake Erie/Niagara River Buffalo, N.Y. Aug. 7-10 Champions Choice Oneida Lake Syracuse, N.Y. Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series include Toyota Tundra, Advance Auto Parts, Berkley, Lowrance, Mercury, Purolator, Skeeter, Yamaha, Evan Williams Bourbon, Longhorn, OPTIMA Batteries, Triton Boats, Costa del Mar, MotorGuide and Ramada Worldwide. About BASS For 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multi-media platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive web properties in http://www.Bassmaster.com and http://www.ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage to passionate audiences. The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Womens Bassmaster Tour and the Bassmaster Classic, the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS sanctions more than 20,000 events annually. BASS also offers a wide array of services to its more than 525,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla. -30- Media contact: Doug Grassian, (407) 566-2216 or doug.grassian@espn.com 2008 Battle on the Border 4/10-4/13 Lake Amistad, Del Rio TX. (PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 15 76-15 305 $102,000.00 Day 1: 5 23-14 Day 2: 5 23-03 Day 3: 5 29-14 2. Clark Reehm Russellville, AR 15 76-03 295 $30,000.00 Day 1: 5 28-14 Day 2: 5 25-12 Day 3: 5 21-09 3. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 15 75-10 290 $36,000.00 Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 31-06 Day 3: 5 22-07 4. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 15 71-01 285 $18,000.00 Day 1: 5 29-05 Day 2: 5 23-14 Day 3: 5 17-14 5. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 15 69-12 285 $17,000.00 Day 1: 5 25-15 Day 2: 5 29-13 Day 3: 5 14-00 6. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 15 69-06 276 $15,500.00 Day 1: 5 27-07 Day 2: 5 20-09 Day 3: 5 21-06 7. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 68-04 272 $17,000.00 Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 28-13 Day 3: 5 19-11 8. Billy Brewer Bruceville, TX 15 67-10 268 $14,500.00 Day 1: 5 25-12 Day 2: 5 24-01 Day 3: 5 17-13 9. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 15 67-04 264 $14,000.00 Day 1: 5 26-04 Day 2: 5 23-14 Day 3: 5 17-02 10. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 15 64-04 260 $13,500.00 Day 1: 5 27-03 Day 2: 5 17-07 Day 3: 5 19-10 11. Kurt Dove Fairfax, VA 15 61-12 262 $13,500.00 Day 1: 5 30-08 Day 2: 5 14-02 Day 3: 5 17-02 12. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 15 56-07 254 $12,300.00 Day 1: 5 25-03 Day 2: 5 20-02 Day 3: 5 11-02 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- PUROLATOR BIG BASS Day 1 Randy Howell Springville, AL 10-08 $1,000.00 2 Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 11-11 $1,000.00 3 Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 08-13 $1,000.00 PUROLATOR BIG BASS OF TOURN Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 11-11 $1,000.00 BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT Day 1 Kurt Dove Fairfax, VA 30-08 $1,000.00 2 Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 31-06 $1,000.00 3 Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 29-14 $1,000.00 BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT OF TOURN Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 31-06 $10,000.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 107 542 1872-02 2 107 540 1797-00 3 12 60 229-10 ---------------------------------- 226 1142 3898-12 2008 Battle on the Border - Battle on the Border Pro Points After Lake Amistad, Del Rio, Texas Ending 04-13-2008, Day 3 ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Mike McClelland Ark. 1017 2 Todd Faircloth Texas 995 3 Mark Davis Ark. 991 4 Dean Rojas Ariz. 970 5 Scott Rook Ark. 963 6 Skeet Reese Calif. 940 7 Alton Jones Texas 906 8 Derek Remitz Ala. 895 9 Bobby Lane Fla. 892 10 Bill Lowen Ohio 890 11 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 882 12 Kenyon Hill Okla. 881 13 Rick Morris Va. 870 13 Kevin VanDam Mich. 870 15 Gary Klein Texas 865 16 Terry Scroggins Fla. 854 17 Randy Howell Ala. 842 18 Brian Snowden Mo. 838 19 Byron Velvick Texas 817 20 Britt Myers S.C. 807 21 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 801 22 Kevin Short Ark. 799 23 Mark Menendez Ky. 796 24 Jason Williamson S.C. 795 25 Steve Kennedy Ala. 793 26 Bernie Schultz Fla. 792 27 Aaron Martens Ala. 791 27 Casey Ashley S.C. 791 27 Fred Roumbanis Okla. 791 30 Jason Quinn S.C. 777 31 Jared Lintner Calif. 772 32 Edwin Evers Okla. 767 33 Billy Brewer Texas 764 34 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 760 35 Ish Monroe Calif. 758 36 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 737 36 Brent Chapman Kan. 737 38 Morizo Shimizu Japan 735 39 Takahiro Omori Texas 734 40 Kelly Jordon Texas 731 41 Shaw Grigsby Fla. 729 42 Mike Wurm Ark. 728 43 Scott Campbell Mo. 727 44 Dave Wolak N.C. 726 45 Matt Reed Texas 702 46 Clark Reehm Ark. 700 47 Kevin Wirth Ky. 699 48 Paul Elias Miss. 694 49 Dustin Wilks N.C. 690 50 Russ Lane Ala. 685 51 Preston Clark Fla. 667 52 Gerald Swindle Ala. 662 53 Rick Clunn Mo. 658 54 Denny Brauer Mo. 656 55 Jimmy Mize Ark. 655 56 Tommy Biffle Okla. 639 57 Marty Stone N.C. 636 58 Jay Fuller Okla. 635 59 Elton Luce Texas 634 60 Cliff Pace Miss. 633 61 Jeff Kriet Okla. 625 61 Brian Clark Texas 625 63 Boyd Duckett Ala. 624 64 Jon Bondy Canada 621 65 Bradley Hallman Okla. 618 66 Greg Hackney La. 617 67 Zell Rowland Texas 616 68 Timmy Horton Ala. 615 69 John Crews Va. 613 70 Chris Lane Fla. 610 71 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 608 72 Guy Eaker N.C. 606 73 Terry Butcher Okla. 603 74 Stephen Browning Ark. 591 75 Ben Matsubu Texas 585 76 Wade Grooms S.C. 579 77 Pat Golden N.C. 577 78 Jami Fralick S.D. 572 79 Davy Hite S.C. 571 80 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 567 81 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 565 82 Kurt Dove Va. 564 83 Mark Tyler Okla. 558 84 Ken Cook Okla. 549 85 Mark Tucker Mo. 540 86 Peter Thliveros Fla. 538 87 Jeff Connella La. 532 88 Jim Murray Ga. 531 89 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 529 90 Charlie Hartley Ohio 518 91 Kevin Langill N.C. 515 92 Rick Ash Pa. 500 93 Todd Auten S.C. 498 94 Steve Daniel Fla. 496 95 John Murray Ariz. 493 96 Marty Robinson S.C. 479 97 James Kennedy La. 478 98 Grant Goldbeck Md. 476 99 Corey Waldrop Texas 461 100 James Niggemeyer Texas 451 101 David Sherrer La. 449 102 Bobby Myers Okla. 438 103 Pete Ponds Miss. 425 104 Glenn Delong Ohio 414 105 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 412 106 Paul Hirosky Pa. 388 107 Randy Allen La. 373 108 David Smith Okla. 357 109 Matt Amedeo Ohio 343